Marudu’s first cinema to open in Nov
Published on: Monday, July 04, 2022
Aidah (left) and Onn Norsha (right) showing the signed document to build a cinema in Kota Marudu witnessed by Maximus.
KOTA MARUDU: Locals here will get to watch movies in a modern style cinema this year when 10 Star Cinemas Sdn Bhd build one here in an effort to further develop the new township of Kota Marudu.A leading property developer in Sabah, WK Consortium Sdn Bhd, which led successful development of the new township, here, consisting Residensi PR1MA and 1Avenue Commercial Centre (1ACC) has added the cinema company to its township – the first ever cinema in North Sabah.ADVERTISEMENT
WK Majujaya Sdn Bhd (Group Companies of WK Consortium Sdn Bhd) Chief Executive Officer, Aidah Wong, said this was in line with its goal of modernising and transforming Kota Marudu into an economic hub of North Sabah.
She said the cinema in 1ACC is scheduled to start operating in November.
“With an estimated cost of RM5 million for the construction of the first-ever modern cinema in Kota Marudu’s history, we envision 10 Star Cinemas 1ACC to become a landmark for the development of the creative industry in Kota Marudu.
“As a bonus point, the incorporation of this cinema into our township will provide employment opportunities to local youths with specialised training programmes, as well as provide a platform for art activists in the local screening and film sectors,” she said.ADVERTISEMENT
Aidah said this after a signing ceremony between her and 10 Star Cinemas CEO Onn Norshal Hamzah, witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu Member of Parliament.
With the addition of the cinema in the Kota Marudu township, she said the company is confident that they will soon be able to achieve their dream of transforming the district into becoming the epicentre of North Sabah.
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“Our dream, however, will not end there, as we intend to use our expertise in township developments to instil similar transformative and modern concepts into our new project, Alam Pesona Putatan.
“Alam Pesona Putatan represents the first element of our transformative project in Putatan comprising 1,200 units of chic, stylish and affordable apartments and three-storey shoplots. It will be the catalyst for modernisation in Putatan, acting as the centre of residential and commercial developments in the district.
Onn Norshal said the company, which is a subsidiary of Melewar Industrial Group Berhad, is an infra cinema development company that aims to normalise the concept of ‘Community Cinema’ in Malaysia.
He said the inception in 2021 focused on incorporating its “Pawagam Milik Anda” development programme throughout the more under-developed districts in Sabah.
Having successfully opened branches in both Tawau and Sandakan, he said the company expects to have six operating cinemas in Sabah by the end of 2022, and 18 cinemas by the end of 2023.
Onn Norshal said this state-of-the-art cinema will incorporate six screening halls and each hall will offer 70 seats, giving a total of 420 available seats.
“This cinema will offer screenings of both local and western films upon their release in Malaysia. Most importantly, this cinema will be equipped with the latest laser projection system - one of the first in Malaysia - and the world’s leading digital sound system from India.
“With this technology, the people of Kota Marudu can experience movies at an exceptional level - on par with the screenings of existing commercial cinemas,” he said.
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